4/19/2013 |
Cingrani gets first win as Reds rout MarlinsMatched against Marlins phenom Jose Fernandez, Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani prevailed in his first big league start, leading Cincinnati to its fourth straight win, 11-1, on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

4/19/2013 |
Bradley demoted to make room for Big PapiThe Red Sox had said all along that they would only keep Jackie Bradley Jr. on the roster if he was playing almost every day. Thursday marked the third straight day Bradley was not in the starting lineup, and after the game, Bradley was informed he was being optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

4/18/2013 |
Cingrani bests Fernandez in rookies' first meetingThursday's 11-1 loss to the Reds featured a matchup of two of the game's best young pitching prospects. Miami's Jose Fernandez, 20, and Cincinnati's Tony Cingrani, 23, are rated No. 7 and No. 66, respectively, among MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects.

4/18/2013 |
Stanton knocks rust off in return to lineupAll-Star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who missed six games with a bruised left shoulder, returned to the Marlins' lineup on Thursday, going 1-for-3 with a walk in an 11-1 loss to the Reds.

4/18/2013 |
Wieters' walk-off grand slam lifts O's in 10thMatt Wieters hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th to lead Baltimore to a 10-6 victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday night as the Orioles were able to overcome a shaky outing by starter Miguel Gonzalez, who allowed two of his three home runs in the first inning.

4/18/2013 |
BP mishap lands Hechavarria on DLAdeiny Hechavarria was the latest to join the Marlins' disabled list when he was placed on the 15-day DL on Thursday with a right elbow contusion.

4/18/2013 |
Dickey's knuckleball cooperates, but back does notR.A. Dickey reclaimed his Cy Young Award form from a year ago in the National League, retiring the first 11 batters he faced in a 3-1 win against the White Sox, but exited after six innings with neck and back tightness.

4/18/2013 |
Carpenter gets nod as Cards' leadoff hitterIt was no reflection on Jon Jay and his .292 on-base-percentage, said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, that Matt Carpenter led off Thursday night for the first time in his 136-game Major League career.

4/18/2013 |
Rodney's lengthy rest is bittersweet for RaysRays closer Fernando Rodney has not been used much this season because the Rays have not been in many save situations, meaning concerns of overuse coming out of the World Baseball Classic have transitioned to concerns about rust.

4/18/2013 |
Lester sharp as Sox sweep Tribe, win sixth straightFifteen games into the season, the Red Sox are looking like a well-oiled engine that is getting it done in all facets of the game. All of it was on display in Thursday night's 6-3 win over the Indians that completed a three-game sweep and pushed the team's winning streak to six games.

4/18/2013 |
Red Sox prepare for emotional Fenway homecomingThe raw emotion that will be at Fenway Park on Friday night when the Red Sox come home will likely be different than any other occasion in the history of the 101-year-old venue. Friday marks the club's first home game since Monday's Boston Marathon tragedy that claimed three lives and injured 176 others.

4/18/2013 |
Brown 'a lot better' but sits in favor of GalvisDomonic Brown, who left Wednesday's game in Cincinnati because of soreness in his lower back, said he felt better after taking medication Wednesday and felt fine taking swings in the batting cage before Thursday's game against the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. But Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had Freddy Galvis playing left field Thursday.

4/18/2013 |
Astros to tighten security at Minute Maid ParkThe Astros will increase security at Minute Maid Park, the club announced on Thursday, in the wake of Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon. The changes will begin with Friday night's 7:10 p.m. CT game against the Indians.

4/18/2013 |
Slumping Middlebrooks out of starting lineupWhen Will Middlebrooks belted three homers on April 7 at Toronto, it looked like he was ready to go on a tear. Instead, the monster game preceded what has been the worst slump of the Red Sox third baseman's young career.

4/18/2013 |
Lackey, Morales slated for Double-A actionThe Red Sox will have two pitchers in action on Monday at Double-A Portland. That is where right-hander John Lackey will start his Minor League rehab and where lefty Franklin Morales will continue his.

4/18/2013 |
Cozart is thriving in the two-holeReds shortstop Zack Cozart, who entered Thursday batting .385 with two home runs in six games, has take off since returning to the No. 2 spot in the batting order and has been key to Cincinnati's recent hot streak.

4/18/2013 |
Votto is still productive despite slow startReds first baseman Joey Votto entered Thursday batting .277 with one homer, three RBIs and 14 strikeouts, but helped by a Major League leading 22 walks, he carried a league-best .521 on-base percentage and has reached in every game in which he's played.

4/18/2013 |
Red Sox to welcome back Ortiz on Friday at FenwayDavid Ortiz belted a home run to right field in the sixth inning on Thursday at Pawtucket, R.I., and that was likely the last order of business in his Triple-A rehab assignment. All systems are go for the big slugger to return to the Red Sox for Friday night's game against the Royals.

4/18/2013 |
In young season, Rizzo launches longest HRAnthony Rizzo's monster two-run homer in the third inning Thursday nearly traveled out of Wrigley Field. And ESPN Stats & Info measured it as the longest home run in baseball this season.

4/18/2013 |
A grizzled vet at 42, Giambi not feeling his ageJason Giambi remembers his rookie season with Oakland like it was yesterday. He laughs at the memory of being called a kid by the likes of Mark McGwire and Terry Steinbach. That was 19 seasons ago. Now, Giambi is 42 years old and starting to hear age-related records.